Miniature rose plant named ‘Ruiabri’

ABSTRACT

A distinctive cultivar of miniature rose plant named ‘Ruiabri’, characterized by its dark green leaves; large double salmon-colored flowers; flowers arranged singly or in large sprays; strong rooting habit; excellent postproduction longevity; and excellent garden performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of theminiature rose class, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Ruiabri.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop compact pot rose varieties with noveland attractive flower colors and excellent postproduction longevity andgarden performance. The new cultivar originated from a cross made by theInventor in 1994 of two unnamed proprietary seedlings, not patented. Thecultivar Ruiabri was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands. Plants of the new cultivardiffer from plants of the parent selections primarily in flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings taken atHazerswoude, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew miniature rose plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Ruiabri’. These characteristics incombination distinguish the new miniature rose plant as a new anddistinct cultivar:

1. Dark green leaves.

2. Large double salmon-colored flowers.

3. Flowers arranged singly or in large sprays.

4. Strong rooting habit.

5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

6. Excellent garden performance.

The new miniature rose plant has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature and light level, without,however, any variance in genotype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate typical specimens of thevegetative growth and flowers of the new miniature rose plant, showingthe colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in coloredreproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differslightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription which more accurately describe the actual colors of the newminiature rose.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a top perspectiveview of a typical plant of the new miniature rose plant grown inHazerswoude, The Netherlands.

The photograph at bottom of the first page comprises a close-up view ofa typical flower of the new miniature rose plant.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises details of the newminiature rose plant. In this photograph the apex of a young shoot (1);a leaf with three leaflets (2); a leaf with five leaflets (3); a leafwith seven leaflets (4); a stem without leaves (5); a flower bud aftersepals open (6); a flower bud after petals begin to unfurl (7); a flowerone-half open (8); a flower fully open (9); reproductive organs (10); apistil (11); and receptacle (12) are shown.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown inKeller, Tex., in 15-cm containers under conditions which closelyapproximate commercial outdoor production conditions during the summerand early autumn. Plants used for the description were about 15 weeksold.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.—Rosa hybrida cultivar Ruiabri.

Commercial.—Miniature pot rose.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling, not patented.

Female or seed parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal or stem cuttings.

Time to rooting.—8 to 10 days with soil temperatures of 20° C.

Root description.—Propagates easily, roots and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright, somewhat spreading; uniform habit.

Plant height.—About 36 cm.

Plant width.—About 38 cm.

Growth habit.—Vigorous. Suitable for 10-cm and larger containers.

Crop time.—Time to produce a finished plant in a 10-cm container 20 to30 cm in height and 15 to 20 cm in width is generally about 10 to 12weeks depending on average temperature, light level, and culturalpractices.

Stem and lateral branches.—Branching habit: Freely; branches willpotentially form at every node. Diameter of lateral branches, at base:About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color:137A. Thorns: Amount: Moderate. Length: About 4 mm. Shape: Linear.Color: Light brown, close to 164C when immature, darker brown, close to177A when mature.

Foliage description.—Leaves arranged alternately, compound withtypically three to seven leaflets per leaf, generally symmetrical,abundant, and flat in aspect. Stipules at petiole base; stipules about 7mm in length, linear and pointed, glabrous, and similar in color toleaf. Leaflet length: about 2.5 cm. Leaflet width: About 1.7 cm. Shape:Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Serrate. Texture: Uppersurface, glossy; lower surface, dull. Petiole length: About 1.6 cm tobase of lower leaflet. Rachis length: About 2 cm. Petiole diameter:About 1 mm. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: Darker than 144A,overlain with anthocyanin, close to 59A. Young foliage, lower surface:Close to 147B, overlain with anthocyanin, close to 59A. Mature foliage,upper surface: 147A. Mature foliage, lower surface: 147B. Petiole: Uppersurface, 147A overlain with close to 59A; lower surface, 147B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Large double salmon flowers. Consistentlysymmetrical rosette flowers that are hemispherical in shape. Freely andcontinuously flowering. The flowers are borne singly on peduncles orarranged in large sprays with about three flowers per spray. Flowerspersistent.

Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions, optimalflowering from spring through autumn under garden conditions.

Flower diameter.—About 4.2 cm.

Flower depth (height).—About 2.1 cm.

Flower longevity on plant.—About 12 to 14 days.

Fragrance.−Very faint, typical of Rosa.

Fower buds (at stage of showing color).—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 1.3cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Color: Close to 47C.

Petals.—Quantity: About 78 per flower; typically about 13 rows, rosettearrangement. Length, outer petals: About 2.1 cm. Width, outer petals:About 2.2 cm. Shape: Roughly cordate. Apex: Retuse or cuspidate. Base:Attenuate. Margin: Entire, recurved. Texture: Smooth, velvety. Color:When opening, upper surface: 47C; base, white, close to 155D. Whenopening, lower surface: 47D; base, white, close to 155D. Fully opened,upper surface: 47C to 47B; fading to 47D with subsequent development;base; white, close to 155D. Fully opened, lower surface: 47D to 47C;base, white, close to 155D.

Sepals.—Quantity: Typically five per flower. Length: About 2.1 cm.Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Sharply pointed.Base: Truncate. Texture: Pubescent, fine white hairs on upper surface.Color: Upper surface; 144A; covered with fine white hairs. Lowersurface: 144A.

Peduncles.—Strength: Good yet flexible. Aspect: Erect to bent. Length:About 3.1 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Close to 137A, occasionallyoverlain with anthocyanin, close to 59A.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 25 per flower. Anthersize: About 2 by 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Bilobate. Anther color: Close to7A. Pistils: Quantity: About 20 per flower. Style length: About 4.5 mm.Style color: Close to 4D.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new miniature rose have beenshown to be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Resistance to pest has not beenobserved.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new miniature rose have been shownto be tolerant to temperatures from 0 to 45° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct miniature rose plant named‘Ruiabri’, as